Volunteer Ideas for a 13 Yr Old Boy

I volunteer for Habitat for Humanity helping them build houses for the less fortunate. I always feel good because I am doing something wonderful to give back, but I have learned how to tile a roof, drywall, and frame a house at the same time.

Hi L., Any assisted living facility will take volunteers. The kids can take books or newpapers and read to residents or help out with whatever the facilty needs. Some will have the kids play cards or bingo with residents. Another idea is VolunteerMatch.com They will match him to a place that he would be well suited - everything from Food Banks to cleaning graffitti.
Hope that helps.
R.

First off please don't pull a Thelma and Louise. I think we are all about to drive off cliffs somedays. Without other mothers and friends we propably would. Think of the mess that would make. Anyway, I want to thank you for asking this, I got some great ideas from your responces. I think our family could step outside our church volenteering and try something new. God would want us to do that anyway. I'm going to check out the websites given and maybe we'll see you in a soup kitchen somewhere. Thanks! Oh if you have a home church ask there. You would be amazed at how much help they often need. Our Church has a food pantry that people come and get food from and nurses that come on Wednessday to help the homeless. If you don't, find one. It certainly couldn't hurt.

How about st. paul devince. I just did some volenteer work today and surved breakfast to homeless individuals

contact your local animal shelters - they always need dog walkers - or if there is an issue regarding animals try an old people's home - they love to have people to talk to and read to them or play games with - and there is always the YMCA (or similar) that need helpers for younger kids' activities - it's very admirable to volunteer time for others and builds good character - excellent intention - kudos to you

I went with my son to volunteer for one of those horse-back-riding programs for disabled people. I think that he learned a lot. S.

Have you considered boy scouts? they do all sorts of service projects all the time. Teach all kinds of great qualities as well.

Hi L.!

If your family has Military ties, I would contact your local American Legion. This is something that the whole family can do together. I have been a member for many years and love volunteering with them.
:-)

Your local library would love to have him volunteer. He could help sticker books, story times, filing, etc.. I did when I was about that age myself, and have many fond memories.

soup kitchens and food banks, our police dept and sherriffs office has an explorer program as does border patrol and they are always doing volunteer stuff like traffic and crowd control at the farmers market etc. that would be fun too. als cehckwith you rotary, kiwanis, lions and elks clubs and ask if they take volunteers for any of their events. i am a nurse and i started taking my youngest son to a nursing home a couple times a month to read to the residents. sometimes he didnt read, he would comb hair or just sit and liten to them or take them outside for a bit. i think that also reenforced his career choice, he wants to ba a nurse but it taught him respect for his elders and to see how lucky he is tohave family because most of his ' grammas and granpas" dont have any one that visits them. he always brings one or two of them home for thanksgiving or christmas. he is away at college but even now ehn he comes home he always stops by and says a quick hello.

I have a 9 yr old daughter who wanted to volunteer this summer. I looked on line & found the Ronald McDonald House. Some places ask that the parents also volunteer with your child. So its great because we get to spend time together & volunteer at the same time. We volunteer one day a week for 3 hours. Its wonderful and rewarding.

F.

Hi L., Great idea!!! Not sure what kind of neighborhood you live in, but he can design and make some flyers to hang on the neighbor's doors offering to help people with yard work or misc things around the house. This would be especially helpful to the older community as a lot of people are cutting back on things, pool service and yard work being a couple of the big ones. Good luck with this!

There is a web site http://www.justgive.org/html/don_info/volunteerideas.html that has lots of ideas. You can go through them together and see what he is most interested in. Good luck and what a wonderfull idea!

Hi L. -

If he likes pets, check with your local humane society. They are always looking for volunteers to feed, walk or just talk & play with the animals.

Just a thought,

M.